EDITORIAL: Take weather forecasts seriously, it will save lives and more

Weather forecasts are only useful if someone acts on them. That simple truth sits at the heart of disaster preparedness.

In recent days, Kenya has once again paid a painful price for ignoring warnings. Heavy rains triggered flash floods that swept through several counties, killing dozens of people and destroying homes and roads.

 Yet much of this damage was not entirely unforeseen. The Kenya Meteorological Department had issued alerts about intense rainfall and possible flooding. A forecast is not just a prediction. It is an early warning designed to trigger action.

Government agencies should treat such alerts as operational signals. County authorities can clear blocked drainage, inspect dams, warn residents in flood-prone settlements and prepare emergency shelters. Disaster teams can pre-position rescue equipment and coordinate response units before the rains reach their peak.

Too often, however, these steps come after tragedy. Floodwaters arrive first. The response follows later.

The public also has a role. Weather advisories should influence daily decisions. Motorists must avoid flooded roads, residents near rivers should move early to safer ground and communities should take evacuation notices seriously.

Disregarding forecasts, whether out of complacency or disbelief, turns manageable risks into fatal emergencies.

Urban planning compounds the problem. Rapid growth, settlements on riparian land and blocked drainage systems mean that even short bursts of rain can become disasters.

As extreme weather becomes more frequent, this vulnerability will only grow.

Forecasting science in Kenya has improved steadily over the years. The missing link is response.